Aviva Premiership preview: Gloucester v Leicester Tigers
Halloween is, of course, the perfect time for shocks and scares, but will it be a spine-chilling weekend for reigning champions Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm?
Richard Cockerill’s side take on Gloucester on Saturday evening, hoping to leapfrog their opponents into the top four. However, the Cherry and Whites have won four of their first six matches and will want to continue their fine start to the campaign with victory over the Tigers.
They will be boosted by the fact Leicester have failed to win away from home this season, but Kingsholm has been a happy hunting ground for the champions, who have won three of their last four matches at Gloucester’s home ground.
One team who will be hoping to dethrone Leicester this season are Saracens. The London-based club hit the headlines earlier this week after signing Wales centre Gavin Henson from Ospreys, but it’ll be down to Alex Goode to fill the void left by injured fly-half, Derick Hougaard, against Exeter Chiefs this weekend.
Henson is still carrying out his commitments on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing show, but will be keen to find out how his new teammates fare at Vicarage Road on Saturday. If they win and other results go their way, it’s possible they’ll finish the weekend in top spot. As for Exeter, anything other than a thumping away defeat will be a huge bonus, as they continue progressing through their debut campaign inside the top-flight.
Saturday’s other match should see Northampton Saints rise to the top of the table – temporarily, at least. Jim Mallinder’s men smashed London Wasps at Adams Park last Sunday afternoon and will fancy their chances of making it three wins from three against struggling Newcastle Falcons at Franklin’s Gardens.
Newcastle were rather unfortunate to suffer defeat against Saracens last weekend – losing 15-13 at Kingston Park – and are bidding for their second victory of the campaign at one of the toughest away grounds in the country.
The Falcons will certainly have the backing of Premiership contenders, London Irish, who are in action on Sunday against Sale Sharks at the Madejski Stadium.
The Exiles lead the way at the top of the league with 24 points from their first six matches, and appear capable of mounting a serious title challenge this season. Sale have a dismal record against Toby Booth’s side – winning just one of their last seven matches – and prepare to face them in the middle of a purple patch. However, the Sharks are currently enjoying a superb spell themselves, and will make London Irish work hard for any points.
At the bottom of the table, Leeds Carnegie are now desperate for their first victory of the campaign. If their supporters believed things couldn’t have got any worse after last season, it seems they were sorely mistaken.
London Wasps are next up for Leeds at Headingley this Sunday, but won’t underestimate their out-of-form opponents after losing both matches against Neil Back’s side last season. Barring that surprise defeat back in February, Wasps have been dominant at Headingley in recent years – winning six matches from their last seven visits.
And this Halloween weekend’s other match sees Harlequins and Bath go head-to-head, both hoping to cause a stir by finishing Sunday inside the top four.
Twickenham Stoop has proven a difficult ground for Bath in recent years. The six-time champions have lost on their last five visits to Quins’ home ground, and have won at the Stoop just once since 2000. With their troubles now behind them, Harlequins are beginning to get back to their best after months of turmoil, and could sneak into the play-offs at the end of the campaign if they consistently pick up maximum points from matches like Sunday’s.
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